CALHOUN, Ga. — What a difference a year has made for the Sonoraville High School baseball team.
Last spring the Phoenix hosted Ringgold in a key late-season region game and didn’t handle the moment very well, committing a handful of errors in a lopsided loss. Tuesday, with state power and Gordon County neighbor Calhoun visiting in another important region matchup, Sonoraville came through.
Senior Thad Harris pitched a two-hitter and belted two home runs in a 5-1 win that completes a season sweep of the Yellow Jackets. Sonoraville’s win further tightens the region race, leaving Ringgold atop the standings at 6-1 and leaving the Phoenix, Calhoun and Adairsville tied with two losses each.
“That’s a big win for this program and a big one for this season,” Sonoraville coach Deron Walraven said. “We had kind of put ourselves in a hole if we want to win this region, because we have to win out. This was step one in what has to happen, and it’s all in our hands and we’re capable of doing that.”
Harris, who struck out eight and did not give up an earned run, admitted this year’s team has a different mentality when approaching a big game.